Getting your player ready...
February’s frequent flurries of snow were a proper setting for the recently arrived 2012 Subaru Impreza, which has been redesigned and economized.
Wheelbase of the new Impreza has been stretched an inch, yet it has shed 200 pounds overall, partly from a new 148-horsepower, 2.0-liter horizontally opposed 4-cylinder engine, which replaces the former 2.5-liter.
The new boxer engine, tied to a continuously variable transmission in place of the former 4-speed automatic, delivers an EPA-rated 27/36 city/highway miles per gallon rating.
Those are enticing fuel figures for an all-wheel-drive sedan. Subaru says it is the best mileage of any all-wheel-drive vehicle sold in the U.S.
It has been restyled, emphasized by hawkeye headlights, attractive wheel covers and large taillamps, and is some sleeker. It doesn’t, though, compare with the shapely Ford Focus or Hyundai Elantra. Fairly supportive front bucket seats highlight a clean-looking interior, with easy-to-use navigation system. Legroom has been increased in the rear seating area; plenty of headroom, too. Trunk capacity in the four-door sedan I drove is 12 cubic feet, somewhat tight; the Impreza is also offered in a five-door hatchback with more cargo space. A performance dropoff is noticeable with the 2.0-liter and CVT, compared with last year’s 2.5 and 4-speed, yet it makes it mark with smoothness and the much improved economy ratings. Paddle shifters give it a boost in climbing and twisting. A 5-speed manual transmission is optional.
Its standard symmetrical all-wheel drive, long one of the best for Colorado terrain, adds to cornering capabilities and adds safety throughout our winter season. The Impreza 2.0 Premium four-door’s base price of $19,095 was boosted to $23,914 with the addition of the CVT transmission, power moonroof, heated front seats and side mirrors, windshield wiper de-icer, 17-inch alloy wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob.
Among standard items are AM/FM/CD audio with steering-wheel-mounted controls, air conditioning, cruise control, power windows/locks/mirrors, keyless entry, side-curtain and knee airbags.
The 2012 model is the fourth-generation Impreza. Best-known since 2002 for its WRX and STi performance cars, the Impreza was introduced in the U.S. in the 1993 model year. It came in coupe, sedan and wagon body styles, powered by a 1.6-liter boxer engine, and was offered in front-drive or all-wheel-drive configuration. All-wheel drive became standard on all Subarus in 1997.
In 2002, as the Impreza was being redesigned, Subaru made the decision to send to this country its WRX sports sedan, powered by a 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder boxer engine with 224 horsepower. Two years later, the STi performance model was added, and displacement was raised to 2.5 and horsepower to 300 in the WRX. Suspension was softened for the third-generation Impreza in 2007.
Button adds AWD
to Suzuki four-door
Spirited handling, all-wheel drive and affordability have earned the Suzuki Kizashi a second look by consumers studying the midsize sedan market.
Lots of features were packed into the 2012 Kizashi Sport GTS AWD, carrying sticker price of $26,404. The car was suited to our February snows. Normally, the car will send power to only the front wheels, but push the AWD button next to the steering wheel and the Kizashi will send up to 50 percent of the power to the rear for enhanced traction in inclement weather.
Backing up the good handling is a fairly bland power band from its 180-horsepower, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and continuously variable transmission.
Inside, its form-fitting buckets add comfort, along with Rockford Fosgate audio system, dual-zone climate control and power tilt and slide sunroof. Its thick A pillars and wide side mirrors can be a vision blocker at intersections.
The Kizashi weighs in at 3,200 pounds on a wheelbase of 106 inches. It carries an EPA rating of 22/29; I averaged 23.8 in mostly city driving.
The Kizashi is built in Sagara, Japan. 2012 Subaru Impreza $23,914 (price as tested) MPG City 27 Highway 36 Vehicle type: Compact all-wheel-drive sedan Wheelbase: 104.1 inches Length/Width/Height: 180.3/68.5/56.1 inches Weight: 2,910 pounds Engine: 2.0-liter 4-cylinder boxer Transmission: Continuously variable Fuel mileage: 29.8 mpg Fuel tank: 14.5 gallons Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles basic; 5/60,000 powertrain Competitors: Mitsubishi Lancer AWC, Suzuki SX4, Toyota Matrix Built atL Gunma, Japan Parts content: Japanese 100 percent THE STICKER $19,095 base $3,000 Navigation, power moonroof, heated seats/mirrors, 17-inch wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel $1,000 Continuously variable transmission $750 Destination PLUSES All-wheel-drive capability Pricing Exterior style MINUSES Power drop Fuel mileage Interior quality
It has been restyled, emphasized by hawkeye headlights, attractive wheel covers and large taillamps, and is some sleeker. It doesn’t, though, compare with the shapely Ford Focus or Hyundai Elantra. Fairly supportive front bucket seats highlight a clean-looking interior, with easy-to-use navigation system. Legroom has been increased in the rear seating area; plenty of headroom, too. Trunk capacity in the four-door sedan I drove is 12 cubic feet, somewhat tight; the Impreza is also offered in a five-door hatchback with more cargo space. A performance dropoff is noticeable with the 2.0-liter and CVT, compared with last year’s 2.5 and 4-speed, yet it makes it mark with smoothness and the much improved economy ratings. Paddle shifters give it a boost in climbing and twisting. A 5-speed manual transmission is optional.
Its standard symmetrical all-wheel drive, long one of the best for Colorado terrain, adds to cornering capabilities and adds safety throughout our winter season. The Impreza 2.0 Premium four-door’s base price of $19,095 was boosted to $23,914 with the addition of the CVT transmission, power moonroof, heated front seats and side mirrors, windshield wiper de-icer, 17-inch alloy wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob.
to Suzuki four-door
The Kizashi is built in Sagara, Japan. 2012 Subaru Impreza $23,914 (price as tested) MPG City 27 Highway 36 Vehicle type: Compact all-wheel-drive sedan Wheelbase: 104.1 inches Length/Width/Height: 180.3/68.5/56.1 inches Weight: 2,910 pounds Engine: 2.0-liter 4-cylinder boxer Transmission: Continuously variable Fuel mileage: 29.8 mpg Fuel tank: 14.5 gallons Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles basic; 5/60,000 powertrain Competitors: Mitsubishi Lancer AWC, Suzuki SX4, Toyota Matrix Built atL Gunma, Japan Parts content: Japanese 100 percent THE STICKER $19,095 base $3,000 Navigation, power moonroof, heated seats/mirrors, 17-inch wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel $1,000 Continuously variable transmission $750 Destination PLUSES All-wheel-drive capability Pricing Exterior style MINUSES Power drop Fuel mileage Interior quality
